Storage rack

ABSTRACT

A storage rack having hollow uprights and goods supporting beams therebetween detachably connected to the uprights in a variety of different positions. The beams have mounting hooks at their opposite ends which are constructed differently from one another. The uprights have bent-in wall sections defining opposing recessed corners in each of which a vertical row of spaced openings is provided. The two sets of vertical rows of openings in the uprights are different from one another, one set of openings only being able to receive hooks of one kind at one end of the beams and the other set of openings only being able to receive hooks of another kind at the opposite end of the beams.

United States Patent 51 Mar. 7, 1972 Ohlin [54] STORAGE RACK [72] inventor: Bror Eric Gustav Ohlin, Saffle, Sweden [73] Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electmlux, Stockholm,

Sweden [22] Filed: May 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 35,313

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 9, 1969 Sweden ..6S94/69 [52] US. Cl. 211/176 [5 1] Int. Cl. 47! 5/10 [58] Field oiSearch ..21 1/176, 177, 184, 148, 183

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,510,0l0 5/1970 Gasner ..21 1/177 X 3,004,814 10/1961 Schulze ..21 1/184 X 3,465,895 9/1969 Miller. ..2ll/l77X Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers. Jr. Attorney-Edmund A. Fenander [57] ABSTRACT A storage rack having hollow uprights and goods supporting beams therebetween detachably connected to the uprights in a variety of different positions. The beams have mounting hooks at their opposite ends which areconstructed difierently from one another. The uprights have bent-in wall sections defining opposing recessed corners in each of which a vertical row of spaced openings is provided. The two sets of vertical rows of openings in the uprights are different from one another, one set of openings only being able to receivehooks of one kind at one end of the beams and the other set of openings only being able to receive hooks of another kind at the opposite end of the beams. Y

1Claim.,llDrawing1-igures PAIENTEDHAR 71972 3.647.079

sum 1 [1F 3 PAIENTEUMAR 7 I972 3.647, 079

snmams STORAGE RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to storage racks having uprights and goods supporting beams therebetween which can be detachably connected to the uprights in a variety of different positions.

2. Description of the Prior Art In known storage racks employing uprights as components of a framework, it is possible to position the goods supporting beams on the uprights in an inverted or upside down position. This is objectionable because the beams in such inverted positions fall from a rack and often injure goods on the beams and persons in the vicinity of the rack.

Further, uprights often are employed which are provided with vertical rows of openings located more or less in the centers of the uprights. This is objectionable because in such case the uprights must be formed of relatively thick material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of my invention to provide an improved storage rack having uprights of such construction that the beams can only be detachably connected to the uprights in their correct positions. I accomplish this by employing beams having mounting hooks at their opposite ends which are constructed differently from one another; The uprights have bentin wall sections defining opposing recessed corners in each of which a vertical row of spaced openings is provided.

The two sets of vertical rowsof openings in the uprights are different from one another, one set of openings only being able to receive hooks of one kind at one end of the beams and the other set of openings only being able to receive hooksof another kind at the opposite end of the beams.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage rack having beams supported by uprights embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away and in section, of asupporting beam and uprights illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view'taken at line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lefthand end of the beam shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken at line 55 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the righthand end of the beam shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken at line 77 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the uprights shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken at line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational viewof an upright taken at line 10-10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a stamped metal blank before it is shaped and formed to an upright.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, I have shown my invention in connection with a storage rack-R having front and rear uprights l, 2 and 3, respectively, which are connected by cross braces 6 and reinforced by diagonal braces 5.'The front and rear uprights I, 2 and 3 are connected byelongated members or supporting beams 4 which, as'will be explained presently, can be mounted on the uprights at different vertical positions.

Each of the horizontal beams 4 comprises a vertical web 25 and an elongated hollow section above the web which is of triangular shape in section. The hollow sectioncomprises a flat top 26 and first and second supporting flanges 45 and 46, respectively.

The top 26 has opposing longitudinal edges at opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the web 25. The first flange extends obliquely downward from one longitudinal edge of the top 26 to the upper end of the web 25. The second flange 46 extends obliquely downward from the other longitudinal edge of the top 26 to a zone at the immediate vicinity of the upper end of the web 25.

The upper end of the web'25 and the first flange 45 are integrallyjoined to one another. Further, the top 26 is integrally joined to the first and second flanges 45 and 46, respectively. The lower free edge of the second flange 46 is welded at 46a to the upper end of the web. a

Each beam also includes a flat bottom 27 whose opposing longitudinal edges are at opposite sides of the vertical plane passing through the web 25. A flange 47 extends obliquely upward from one longitudinal edge of the bottom 27 to the lower end of the web 25. A relatively short stabilizing flange 48 extends upward from the other longitudinal edge of the bottom 27.

The lower end of the web 25 and flange 47 are integrally joined to one another. Also, the bottom 27 is integrally joined to the flanges 47 and 48.

In accordance with my invention the uprights l, 2 and 3 are generally of U-shape in cross section with their closed ends are narrower than their open ends. With this configuration recessed comers 7 and 8 are formed at the vicinities of the closed ends of the uprights l, 2 and 3. Rows of rectangularshaped openings or slots 9 and 10 are provided at the recessed comers 7 and 8, respectively. The opposing vertical sidewalls 11 and 12 of the uprights, which are disposed between the recessed comers 7 .and'8 and the open ends of the channels, are formed with rows of vertically spaced openings 14 and 15, respectively.

The lefthand end of the supporting beam seen in FIG. 2 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. This end of the beam is provided with a fastener 24 comprising ;a plate which is paralleltothe-beam in the direction of=its length and fixed to the web 25 and top and bottom 26 and 27 of the beam by welds 28, 29 and 30,'respectively.

The fastener 24 is formed with three hooklike parts 34, 35

and 36, each of whichis notched or undercut at 38 atits hottom-portion 37. 'Whenthe hooklike parts extend through adjacent openings 10 inthe .upright l-in the manner shown in FIG. 2, such parts can. move vertically downward to enable the notched portions 38 torcstat thelower edges of the slots 10. The plate forming .the fastener 24 is stamped so that this fastener will beofU-shapehaving top and bottom horizontally disposed arms 40 and4l, respectively. The top ann 40 is posi- .tioned beneaththe top 26of the beam .while the bottom arm 41 is positioned above athe bottom 27 of the beam. Further, portions of thearms 40 and 41 removed'from the open end of the U-shaped fastener 24 project upward and downward, respectively, through slots or openings42formed in the top and bottom. 26. and 27. of the beam.

The material displaced-fromthe-plate when it is stamped to form the U=shaped fastener24 forms a flange 33 which is perpendicular or normal tothe beam in the direction of its length and alsomay be referred to as a fastener. The fastener 33 is providedwith spaced openings 31 and 32, as best seen in FIG. 5. As best seen inFlG. 3, the fastener 33, after its openings 31 and 32 are in alignment with openingslS in the upright 2, is connected thereto by capscrews 17 having tightening nuts 19.

In order. to facilitate connecting the fastener 33 to the upright 2 in the manner just explained, the top and bottom 26 and 27 of the beam are recessed at 43 and 44, respectively, so that the capscrews 17 can be. inserted through the aligned openings in the fastener 33 and the upright 2. Before a reinforcing plate.22 is fixed to the flanges'20 and21 at the rear open end of the upright 2 in FIG; 3, the tightening nuts 19 can be placed on the capscrews' l7 and tightened thereon.

' The right-hand end of the beam-4 in FIG. 2, a similar end of which is illustrated at the left side of the upright 2 in FIG. 3, is provided with a fastener 53 comprising a plate which is welded to the extreme end of the beam, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In FIG. 7 it will be seen that the fastener 53, which is perpendicular to the beam in its lengthwise direction, is welded to the top and bottom 26 and 27 of the beam and also to the inclined flanges 45 and 47 extending therefrom.

The fastener 53 is provided with a pair of hooklike members 54 and 55 and a horizontal member or arm 56 therebetween. The bottom edges of the members 54 and 55 are notched or undercut at 58 so that, after the members 54, 55 and 56 have passed through slots 9 in the uprights, the fastener 53 can be moved vertically downward to enable the notches 58 to be locked in the bottom edges of the slots 9.

The plate forming the fastener 53 is provided with an offset portion 52 which also functions as a fastener. The fastener 52 is parallel to the hooklike members 54 and 55 and formed with openings 50 and 51. When these openings are in alignment with openings 14 in the upright 2 in FIG. 3, the fastener 52 can be connected to the upright by the capscrews l6 and the tightening nuts 18 therefor.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, an elongated resiliently acting arm 60 is fixed at one end at 62 to the web 25 of the beam 4. The opposite outer free end of the arm 60 is provided with a bent end 59 which functions as a lock plunger. When the handgrip 61 of the arm 60 is released, the bent end 59 moves into the same slot 9 in the upright into which the horizontal member or arm 56 extends. The bent end 59 and arm 56 together occupy one of the vertical slots 9 and function to lock the beam in position. In this manner the beam 4 cannot inadvertently be removed from the upright to which it is fastened. In order that the bent end 59 of the arm 60 can freely move into and from the slot 9 with which it coacts, the web 25 and inclined flanges 45 and 47 of the beam are formed with a cutout section 63.

In further accord with my invention, the uprights l, 2 and 3 desirably are constructed in the manner shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. As seen in FIG. 9, the recessed corner 7 is defined by a bent-in wall section 66 which extends lengthwise of the upright 1 throughout its entire length. The bent-in wall section 66 includes a sidewall portion 67 which extends rearward from the front 65 of the upright and a rear wall portion 68 which extends inward from the sidewall ll.

In a similar manner the recessed corner 8 is defined by a bent-in wall section 69 which also extends lengthwise of the upright 1 throughout its entire length. The bent-in wall section 69 includes a sidewall portion 70 which extends rearward from the front 65 of the upright and a rear wall portion 71 which extends inward from the sidewall 12.

As previously described, rows of rectangular-shaped openings or slots 9 and are provided at the recessed corners 7 and 8, respectively. As seen in FIG. 9, the slots 9 in the left recessed corner 7 extend outward a distance A at the rear wall portion 68 and extend forward a distance D at the sidewall portion 67, the distance A being greater than the distance D. The slots 10 in the right recessed corner 8 extend outward a distance B at the rear wall portion 71 and extend forward a distance C at the sidewall portion 70, the distance B being less than the distance C.

In view of the manner in which the slots 9 and 10 are formed, as just described, the portions A of the slots 9 in the left recessed corner 7 that face the front 65 of the upright 1 will be wider than the portions B of the slots 10 in the right recessed corner 8 that face the front of the upright. Also, the portions D of the slots 9 in the left recessed corner 7 that face the left side of the upright I will be narrower than the portions C of the slots 10 in the right recessed corner 8 that face the right side of the upright l.

The different locations of the slots 9 and 10 in the recessed comers 7 and 8 are effected at the time the metal blank 72 in FIG. 11 is stamped to form the slots 9 and 10 and the openings 14 and 15. When the metal blank 72 is stamped, the slots 9 are distance E. Subsequentlg, when the blank 72 is sha ed to form the upright l, the slots and 10 W1" be In the P05! IOIIS shown in FIG. 9 and described above.

When the distances F and E in FIG. 11 are properly selected, the slots 9 and 10 only function to accept and receive the right-hand and left-hand ends, respectively, of the beam 4 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 the slots 10 accept and receive the hooklike parts 34, 35 and 36 of the fastener24 at the left-hand end of the beam 4. Also, in FIG. 2, the slots 9 accept and receive the hooklike parts 54 and 55 of the fastener 53 at the right-hand end 49 of the beam 4.

When the beam 4 is inverted and turned upside down, the slots 10 will not accept and receive the hooklike parts 54 and 56 of the fastener 53 and the slots 9 will not accept and receive the hooklike parts 34, 35 and 36 of the fastener 24. Hence, the uprights l, 2 and 3 constitute structure for mounting the beams 4 only in their effective load supporting positions on the storage rack R. When the beams 4 are mounted on the apertured uprights l, 2 and 3 which are spaced on the rack R to accommodate the beams 4, the openings 10 in the vertical rows of openings at the right-hand sides of the uprights, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, function to initially receive and hold the hooklike members 34, 35 and 36 of the fasteners 24 which extend lengthwise of the beams 4. The openings 9 in the vertical rows of openings at the left-hand sides of the uprights, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, function to subsequently receive and hold the hooklike members 54 and S5 of the fastener 53 which are perpendicular to the length of the beams 4.

Iclaim:

1. In a storage rack of the class described, the combination of a. elongated load supporting beams having first and second hooklike members at opposite ends thereof, said first hooklike members extending lengthwise of said beams and said second hooklike members being substantially perpendicular to the length of said beams,

b. spaced hollow uprights, the uprights being U-shaped in horizontal cross section and having bent-in wall sections at their closed ends defining recessed comers at both sides thereof which extend lengthwise of the uprights,

c. said bent-in wall sections at the opposing sides of the uprights being apertured and having first and second vertical rows of spaced openings,

d. structure comprising the apertured uprights for mounting said beams only in their effective load supporting positions on the rack,

. the spaced openings in the first and second vertical rows of openings in the apertured uprights of said structure being so formed and arranged in said bent-in wall sections that the openings in the first vertical rows of openings can only receive and effectively hold said first hooklike members extending lengthwise of said beams and the openings in the second vertical rows of openings can only receive and effectively hold said second hooklike members perpendicular to the length of said beams, and,

. when said beams are mounted on the apertured uprights which are spaced on said rack to accommodate said beams, the openings in the first vertical rows of openings function to initially receive and hold said first hooklike members extending lengthwise of said beams and the openings in the second vertical rows of said openings function to subsequently receive and hold said second hooklike members perpendicular to the length of said beams. 

1. In a storage rack of the class described, the combination of a. elongated load supporting beams having first and second hooklike members at opposite ends thereof, said first hooklike members extending lengthwise of said beams and said second hooklike members being substantially perpendicular to the length of said beams, b. spaced hollow uprights, the uprights being U-shaped in horizontal cross section and having bent-in wall sections at their closed ends defining recessed corners at both sides thereof which extend lengthwise of the uprights, c. said bent-in wall sections at the opposing sides of the uprights being apertured and having first and second vertical rows of spaced openings, d. structure comprising the apertured uprights for mounting said beams only in their effective load supporting positions on the rack, e. the spaced openings in the first and second vertical rows of openings in the apertured uprights of said structure being so formed and arranged in saId bent-in wall sections that the openings in the first vertical rows of openings can only receive and effectively hold said first hooklike members extending lengthwise of said beams and the openings in the second vertical rows of openings can only receive and effectively hold said second hooklike members perpendicular to the length of said beams, and, f. when said beams are mounted on the apertured uprights which are spaced on said rack to accommodate said beams, the openings in the first vertical rows of openings function to initially receive and hold said first hooklike members extending lengthwise of said beams and the openings in the second vertical rows of said openings function to subsequently receive and hold said second hooklike members perpendicular to the length of said beams. 